butler

noun

but·​ler ˈbət-lər 

1

: a manservant having charge of the wines and liquors

2

: the chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services

Examples of butler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The largest accommodation is the 4,500-square-foot three-bedroom villa suite above the spa, complete with a private infinity plunge pool and dedicated 24/7 butler service. —Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2024

Two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a laundry room with cabinetry, a chef’s kitchen and a butler’s pantry round out the first floor. —Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2024

Each home boasts open concepts with spacious layouts perfect for entertaining, walls of windows that bring the outdoors inside, and modern kitchens featuring butler’s pantries, chic décor, and vibrant color schemes. —Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2024

Laucala’s operation, strangely, doesn’t follow the typical butler per villa but relies instead on a WhatsApp chat with the staff at the Tau, or reception (in Fijian, tau means pal or friend). —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English buteler, from Anglo-French butiller, from Old French botele bottle — more at bottle

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing butler

• butler's pantry
• silent butler

Kids Definition

butler

noun

but·​ler ˈbət-lər 

: a chief male household servant

Etymology

Middle English buteler "household servant in charge of wines," from early French butiller (same meaning), from botele "bottle," derived from Latin buttis "cask"

Biographical Definition

Butler 1 of 5

biographical name (1)

But·​ler ˈbət-lər 

Benjamin Franklin 1818–1893 American general and politician

Butler

2 of 5

biographical name (2)

Joseph 1692–1752 English theologian

Butler

3 of 5

biographical name (3)

Nicholas Murray 1862–1947 American educator; president Columbia University (1901–45)

Butler

4 of 5

biographical name (4)

Samuel 1612–1680 English satirical poet

Butler

5 of 5

biographical name (5)

Samuel 1835–1902 English novelist and satirist